POLICE and Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators in Rugby have joined forces to encourage community "guardians" to help patrol the streets....

POLICE and Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators in Rugby have joined forces to encourage community "guardians" to help patrol the streets.

Police and the borough council first mooted the idea two months ago but, as yet, the scheme has attracted no volunteers.

Now officers are teaming up with the Neighbourhood Watch Association to try to attract people.

Community safety officer PC Darren Williams said: "We want people who will be on the look-out for things like street lights which may have gone out, graffiti or indeed anything which raises their suspicions. The idea is about reducing the fear of crime.

"They will be the eyes of that street and will know who to contact at the police station or the council.

"We are not after vigilantes. We are not asking for people to go out and confront criminals - we want them to volunteer to take a bit of pride in their street."

The scheme would extend the work of the A4 Crime Down Project, launched in January to cut crime and initially targeting the Newbold and Benn wards.

The idea follows a survey in the Newbold, Benn and Long Lawford areas to see what triggers people's fear of crime.

PC Williams added: "We are hoping to find recruits within Neighbourhood Watch who would also like to be the guardian for their street. In turn, we hope the guardian will then extend the size and workings of the watch group."